The Hockey Canada Foundation and Hockey Quebec have come together to donate $65,000 to the Association du hockey mineur de Lac-Mégantic, covering the registration costs for all 210 minor hockey players registered for the 2013-14 season.

The town was the site of the fourth-largest rail disaster in Canadian history, when an unattended 74-car freight train carrying crude oil ran away and derailed in the heart of downtown Lac-Mégantic in the early-morning hours of July 6.

The derailment spilled more than 7.5 million litres of crude oil into the town, and the ensuing fire and explosion destroyed close to 50 buildings in the town’s centre, roughly half of the downtown area, and killed 47 people.

Representatives from Hockey Canada, the Hockey Canada Foundation and Hockey Quebec were on hand Tuesday night at a meeting of the AHM de Lac-Mégantic to make the announcement and presentation.

“What happened in Lac-Mégantic on July 6 was an unspeakable tragedy, and we wanted to help the people of this town take another step towards recovery by making sure hockey would be a part of their lives this season,” said Barry Lorenzetti, secretary of the Hockey Canada Foundation. “Canadians know the impact hockey can have, and how it helps bring people together, and hopefully this donation allows for some sense of normalcy in Lac-Mégantic.”

Hockey Canada also announced it will hold a skills camp for all levels of minor hockey in Lac-Mégantic during the 2013-14 season.

To donate to the Lac-Mégantic support fund through the Canadian Red Cross, please CLICK HERE.

To donate to the Hockey Canada Foundation in support of minor hockey across the country, please CLICK HERE.